Good news, people! The Mets have lowered their Meaningful Number to 15. If the Mets go 15-6 for the rest of the month, they can reasonably expect to be able to brag about playing “meaningful games in September!”
To review how this number is arrived at, click here.
Wow, even by this generous standard it appears the Mets will almost certainly NOT be playing meaningful games, even during the first September homestand.
I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that, by September 10 (which is when the Mets’ first September homestand begins), they will be at least 10 games behind the NL East leader and at least 8 games behind the NL wildcard leader. By the beginning of the second homestand on September 27, they will be statistically eliminated from both races.
There is some hedging here. If the Mets beat these predictions, then I can enjoy the end of the season as a fan. If I turn out to be right, then at least I can enjoy being right.
I think they can do it. They have 12 home games against the Phils, Rockies, Marlins and Astros. You gotta figure could go 8-4 if they hit a hot streak.
They have seven games at Pittsburgh and Houston. Figure 4-3, but 5-2 with a couple of lucky bounces.
They have two at Atlanta. Maybe 1-1?
That puts them at 14-7, one game short of starting September in “meaningful” territory. But what if the wildcard leader plays closer to .500 ball from now till September? The Mets could easily be 4 games out of the WC on September 1. And that’s basically the Wilpon equivalent of a World Series appearance.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AqX0MDryMsC3SN6HVQQvv1YRvLYF?slug=ap-mariners-wakamatsufired